Laboratory Lessons Mrs. Brown’s Room. I. Lab Safety.

Laboratory LessonsLaboratory Lessons

Mrs. Brown’s RoomMrs. Brown’s Room

I. Lab SafetyI. Lab Safety

Lab Safety:

Accidents in the lab, as in the home or work place, can be prevented if the following three items are followed:

1. Stop to think. 2. Use Common Sense! (Yes, you

all have this!) 3. When in doubt, ask the

teacher.

Personal Protective EquipmentPersonal Protective Equipment

Many states require Many states require by lawby law that that students wear approved safety students wear approved safety goggles or safety glasses when in goggles or safety glasses when in the lab. the lab.

This is an This is an absoluteabsolute " "MUSTMUST"!"!

•The following is not acceptable! 

•Proper Use 

Proper attire:Proper attire: Avoid floppy garmentsAvoid floppy garments    These get tangled up in equipment These get tangled up in equipment

or glassware and cause accidentsor glassware and cause accidents Avoid long, loose hair styles for the Avoid long, loose hair styles for the

same reason.same reason. When Bunsen burners are in use, When Bunsen burners are in use,

long hair sometimes catches on firelong hair sometimes catches on fire

• No open toed shoes are to be worn on lab days!

Safety EquipmentSafety Equipment

Fire ExtinguishersFire Extinguishers Fire BlanketFire Blanket Eye-wash FountainEye-wash Fountain Safety ShowerSafety Shower

Fire Extinguisher OperationFire Extinguisher Operation Locate the "KEY" (the round object)Locate the "KEY" (the round object) Twist the "KEY" to break the stiff Twist the "KEY" to break the stiff

Nylon retaining cordNylon retaining cord ThenThen pull "KEY" out pull "KEY" out Do not merely attempt to pull the Do not merely attempt to pull the

key straight out, unless you are very key straight out, unless you are very strong.strong.

Fire Extinguisher OperationFire Extinguisher Operation

Raise the nozzle in Raise the nozzle in order to direct the order to direct the stream of carbon stream of carbon dioxidedioxide The COThe CO22 will cool will cool

the fire, and restrict the fire, and restrict oxygenoxygen and the fire and the fire should go out.should go out.

Squeeze the handle Squeeze the handle to begin operationto begin operation

Fire BlanketFire Blanket

Usage:Usage:Yank the blanket

out of the wall holder.

Wrap it around the victim to smother the fire.

Eyewash FountainEyewash Fountain If you get something from the lab in your If you get something from the lab in your

eye – eye – Get It Out Immediately!Get It Out Immediately! Run some water through the eyewash Run some water through the eyewash

fountain before you use it.fountain before you use it. Retract your eyelid (hold it open);Retract your eyelid (hold it open); Don’t squint your eyesDon’t squint your eyes, , this restricts this restricts

water access.water access. Run fresh water over your eye for Run fresh water over your eye for

several minutes.several minutes.

Safety ShowerSafety Shower Shower should be Shower should be

used for used for dire dire EMERGENCY EMERGENCY only!only!

If you (or a lab mate) If you (or a lab mate) is is ON FIREON FIRE, position , position yourself (or your lab yourself (or your lab mate) under the mate) under the

safety shower.safety shower. Pull the handle—a Pull the handle—a

deluge of water will deluge of water will

result.result.

Use of the FUME HOODUse of the FUME HOOD

Use the HOOD for Use the HOOD for reactions that give off reactions that give off vapors, especially vapors, especially smelly vapors smelly vapors

The draft of the The draft of the HOOD will sweep HOOD will sweep away vapors so that away vapors so that the lab itself the lab itself maintains reasonable maintains reasonable air qualityair quality

Broken GlassBroken Glass

Sweep it up right awaySweep it up right away Place broken glass in the proper Place broken glass in the proper

receptaclereceptacle Do not pick up glass with bare Do not pick up glass with bare

hands.hands.

II. Use of the Lab II. Use of the Lab

Things to do before the labThings to do before the lab

Read the experimental procedure Read the experimental procedure ahead of lab.ahead of lab. NOT as you do the NOT as you do the procedure!procedure!

If there is consistently a failure to If there is consistently a failure to read the experiment before the read the experiment before the lab then I will be forced to give lab then I will be forced to give pre-lab quizzes! (You don’t want pre-lab quizzes! (You don’t want this!)this!)

Avoid HorseplayAvoid Horseplay

In a laboratory setting, horseplay, In a laboratory setting, horseplay, even if good-natured, is even if good-natured, is absolutely absolutely unacceptableunacceptable!!

No pushing!No pushing! No shoving!No shoving! Serious accidentsSerious accidents all all too often result too often result

involving the glassware or solutions involving the glassware or solutions in usein use

Failure to act appropriately will Failure to act appropriately will result in serious disciplinary action.result in serious disciplinary action.

TESTING of ODORSTESTING of ODORS

Do NOT smell Do NOT smell the container the container directly.directly.

If you absolutely If you absolutely must test the must test the odor, carefully odor, carefully waft the vapor waft the vapor from the flask from the flask toward your toward your nose with your nose with your hand.hand.

Bunsen Burner UsageBunsen Burner Usage Make sure the rubber Make sure the rubber

hoses are hoses are firmlyfirmly attached. attached. Turn up the gas flow Turn up the gas flow

until you hear a gentle until you hear a gentle flow of gas.flow of gas.

Light the burner by Light the burner by bringing the match UP bringing the match UP from the base toward the from the base toward the burner nozzle.burner nozzle.

Remember:  Remember:  down-to-up!down-to-up!

At the end of the lab period:At the end of the lab period:

Remember toRemember to clean up all spills (this clean up all spills (this includes water), and throw away all includes water), and throw away all paper towels.paper towels.

Be sure that hot plates are unplugged Be sure that hot plates are unplugged and against the wall, and that the gas and against the wall, and that the gas valve is in the off position.valve is in the off position.

Return all equipment, chemicals, etc., Return all equipment, chemicals, etc., to its proper place.to its proper place.

If the lab paper is due at the end of If the lab paper is due at the end of class be sure to turn it in.class be sure to turn it in.